Precautions:
Good news -- These mosquito precautions can also help prevent diseases transmitted by ticks, sandflies and other arthropods!
Apply insect repellent containing 30-35% DEET to exposed skin. (Concentrations higher than 50% do not improve effectiveness and may be harmful.)
Help children apply repellent with 6-10% DEET, but don't use DEET on infants less than 2 months old -- cover them insead.
Protect yourself day and night, because different mosquitoes feed at different times.
Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, and a hat to minimize exposed skin.
Spray or wash clothing, bedding, and bed netting (but NOT your skin) with permethrin, which can be purchased in camping stores and the UHS Pharmacy.
Stay and sleep in screened-in or air-conditioned rooms.
Malaria prevention medications:
Does the CDC recommend medication to prevent malaria (also called "prophylaxis") for travelers to your destination?
If you are unsure, you can:
- See Map from CDC (scroll down for maps) OR
- Check your destination on the CDC Travelers' Health website
If the CDC recommends medication, discuss at your visit for UHS Travel Health Services. The kind of medication prescribed will depend on your destination and health history.
You should start taking anti-malarial drugs before you travel, take them during your travels, and continue to take them for up to one month after your return.